Car-coupling.



pivrrnn sTATns OLIN P. MONCRIEF, OF TRUSSVILLE, ALABAMA.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application led October 31,1906. Serial No. 341,477.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OLIN I. MONCRIEF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trussville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following isa speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers of the swinging knuckle type, and has for its object to provide a coupler of improved construction provided with simple and eflicient means for controlling the action of the knuckle and locking the same in either of its positions.

In the accompanying drawing,-Figure 1 is atop plan view of two connected couplers l mit the latter into the space between the embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the couplers. Fig. 8 is an opposite side elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the coupler.

Referring to the drawings, A and B represent two engaged couplers constructed in accordance with the present invention. Each coupler comprises a draw head 1 provided with a rearwardly extending shank 2 and forwardly extending arms 3 and 4, said arms being bifurcated or provided respectively. with longitudinal slots 5 and 6.

.The arm 4 is formed with terminal ears 7 for the reception of a pivot pin or pintle S pivotally connecting therewith the swinging knuckle 9, which is provided with the usual tlail piece 10 adapted to swing through the s ot 6.

The knuckle is provided with an abutting portion 11 having a curved or arcuate outer face to abut against the face of the abutting portion of the knuckle of the opposing coupling, thus adapting the same to move easily into engagement during the coupling operation. rlhe abutting portion of the knuckle swings inwardly and outwardly respectively vduring its coupling and uncoupling action,

and said knuckle is normally held. in coupling position by a spring 12. The spring 12 is arranged within a chamber 13 formed in the shank 2, which chamber is closed by a cover plate 14, one end of the spring being xed to a pin 15 detachably iitted at its' opposite ends in a receiving socket inthe shank and an opening in the cover plate. The other end of the spring is connected to the rear end of a chain 16 or its equivalent which extends outwardly from the chamber through an opening 17 formed in the cover plate and is connected at its forward end to a ring or eye-bolt 18 on the tail piece of the knuckle. Anti-friction rollers 19 and 20 are arranged respectively withinthe housing 13 adjacent the rear wall of the opening 17 and adjacent the rear end of the arm 4 to permit of the proper angular disposition of the forward end of the chain and adapt the same to have freedom of motion without binding. The spring 12,' which is oi the coiled retractile type, eX- erts its contractile energy to draw the chain rearwardly, thus pulling upon the tail piece 10 to automatically swing the knuckle to closed or coupling position. The arm 4 is formed to provide a recess 21 into which the knuckle is adapted to fold when the opposing knuckle comes into contact therewith to adarms 3 and 4, and such movement of the knuckle is limited and cushioned by a buffer spring 22. This spring is of the ribbon or leaf type and has one end secured to the head adjacent the rear of the arm 4 and the other end projecting into the recess 21 in the path of the inwardly swinging knuckle.

A latch bar 23 is arranged to slide vertically in slots formed in the rear ends of the sections of the arm 4 and is provided at its lower end with a stop pin 24 to limit its upward movement. The upper end of the bar is perforated, as at 25, or otherwise suitably constructedqfor the attachment of a suitable operating connection therewith, which connection may be of any of the types in common use. A slot 26 is formed in the bar to permit the tail piece 1'0 to swing therethrough when the bar is in elevated or release position. I-Ience when the bar is raised the knuckle may swing in either direction for a coupling or uncoupling operation. When the bar drops down by gravity to the position shown in the drawing, the slot 26 will be out of register with the slot 6, and the body of the bar will lie in the path of movement of the tail piece 10, thus locking the knuckle from outward movement.-

In the operation of coupling, it will be understood that the latch bars are raised to release position, and that when the abutting portions 11 of the two knuckles abut such portions of both knuckles will swing inwardly into their respective receiving recesses 21 as the arm 4 of each coupler enters between the arms 3 and 4 of the other coupler, thus allowing each to pass the other, and to come into locking engagement, as shown in Fig. 1, the shock of impact being cush- IOO IIO

ioned by the springs 22. In this operation the tail pieces 1() of the two couplers swing out ward, the slots inthe arms of the drawheads permitting such movement, the springs 12 of the two couplers being thereby placed under tension or expanded. When the knuckles pass one another, the reaction of the springs 12 restores them to normal or locking position, in which they may be held by the latch bars 23. To release the couplers, the latch bars are retracted, so that upon the movement of one car away from the other both knuckles will swing outward and their tail pieces inward, thus releasing the knuckles from connection and at the same time plac ing the springs under tension, which springs will thereupon act to restore the knuckles to normal position.

It will be seen from the foregoing descrip tion and the accompanying drawing that the invention provides a simple type of coupling in which an easy movement of the knuckles is afforded, the knuckles cushioned on their coupling action, and means provided for automatically returning the knuckles to normal position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A car coupler comprising a draw head having opposite slotted arms and a chambered shank, a knuckle pivoted upon the outer end of one of the arms and provided with a tail piece arranged to swing in the slot thereof, a slotted latch device vertically movable upon said arm for cooperation with the tail piece, a spring within the chambered shank for resisting opening movement of the knuckle and returning the same to normal position, and a iexible connection arranged upon one side of the coupler and connecting the spring with the tail piece.

2. A coupler comprising a draw head hav ing opposite slotted arms and a chambered shank provided with an opening in one side thereof, a knuckle pivotally mounted upon one of said arms and having a tail piece movable in the slot thereof, avspring secured at one end within the chamber in the draw head,

a connection between said spring and the tail piece, said connection working through said opening in the side of the shank, and a latch device vertically movable on the slotted knuckle supporting arm for coperation with said tail piece.

3. A coupler comprising a draw head, a knuckle p ivoted thereto, spring means for automatically restoring the knuckle to normal position, and a spring upon the face of the draw head to cushion the inward movement of the knuckle.

4. A car coupler comprising a' draw head having opposite slotted arms and a shank provided with a chamber therein, a cover closing the chamber and provided with an opening, a knuckle pivotally mounted upon one of said slotted arms and provided with a tail piece movable within the slot therein, a slotted latch bar slidably mounted upon said arm fory coperation with said tail piece, a coiled retractile spring secured at one end within the chamber, a flexible connection between the opposite end of the spring and the tail piece of the knuckle, said connection being movable through said opening in the cover'and extending outwardly on one side of the draw head, and anti-friction guides for said connection.

5. A coupler comprising a draw head, a knuckle pivotally mounted thereon, a spring for retracting the knuckle, and an independent spring directly mounted upon the `end of the draw head for cushioning the inward movement of the knuckle.

. 6. In a car coupler, a draw head, a knuckle pivotally mounted thereon, controlling means for the knuckle, and a springupon the face of the draw head arranged to be engaged by the jaw of the knuckle on the inward swinging movement of the latter for cushioning said knuckle in such movement.

In testimony whereof, I al'liX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLIN P. MONORIEF.

Witnesses:

W. M. FRANKLIN, J. B. MARTIN. 

